Evan Nickolas Pitts, 28, formerly of Joplin, died Monday, Sept. 22, 2004, at Freeman West Hospital. He was born April 30, 1976, in Joplin to Nickolas and Marilyn Brown Pitts and had lived in the Joplin area most of his life before moving to Des Moines, lowa, two years ago.

He worked for Neighborhood Patrol Inc. in Des Moines for the past six months. While in Joplin, he had worked for U.S. Security and F.A.G. Bearing. He graduated from East Newton High School and attended Missouri Southern State University. He was a member of Granby, Mo., United Methodist Church and attended Royal Heights United Methodist Church and Westkirk Presbyterian Church in Urbandale, Iowa. He served with the United States Navy. He was a writer, with works published in several publications and magazines including the National Library of Poetry Anthologies, Volumes I through III.

He married Rachelle Haworth on July 12, 2003, in Montezuma, Iowa. She survives at the home.

Services will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel, in Joplin, with the Rev. Dr. Douglas Smiley officiating. Interment will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. Thursday at Parker Mortuary Chapel.